Train-signal system.



L. L. PARKHILL.

TRAIN SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION mu) JAN. 20, 1915.

1,181,343. Patented May2,1916.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co, WASHINGTON. n. c.

L. L. PARKHILL.

TRAIN SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1915.

1 1 8 1 ,343 Patented May 2, 1916.

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LAWRENCE L. PARKHILL, OF DAWSON, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRAIN-SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Application filed January 20, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE L. PARK- HiLL, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at Dawson, in the county of Fayette andState of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements inTrain-Signal Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in signal systems for trains andhas particular application to a combined signal and telephone system.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide asystem of the class described whereby the conductor in the caboose ofthe train may have talking communication with the engineer and viceversa and whereby a trainman on any car of the train may signal theengineer.

It is also my purpose to provide a system of the class described whichwill operate efficiently and effectively under all conditions, whichwill embody comparatively few parts and these so correlated and arrangedas to reduce the possibility of derangement to a minimum and wherein thewiring and circuit connections will be simple and durable.

\Vith the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forthin and falling within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a trainsignaling system constructed in accordance with the present invention.Fig. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic view showing the circuit arrangementand instruments in the cab of the locomotive. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsectional view through a connecting device for connecting the wires ofadjacent cars of the train. Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of a keycontrolled switch. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View therethrough.Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of the key. Fig. 7 is a face view ofa plate containing information relating to the signal code.

In accordance with my present invention, each car of a train is equippedwith conductors 1, 2 extending along the bottom of the car and securedthereto in some suitable manner. These conductors are insulated fromeach other and secured to each end of the car is a connector 3 formed ofa block of insulating material provided with a Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Serial No. 8,325.

socket 4 opening onto the outer end thereof and a plug 5 secured to theouter end thereof and projecting outwardly therefrom. The connectors 3at the ends of each car are reversely disposed relatively so that whenthe cars are coupled the plugs of the connector on one end of one carwill enter the socket of the connector on adjoining end of the coupledcar and vice versa. The ends of the conductors 1 and 2 carried by eachcar are terminally connected with the sockets and plugs respectively ofthe connectors so that when the cars of the train are coupled togetherand the connectors coupled up as just described the conductors carriedby the individual cars of the train will be electrically connected withone another in circuit formation.

Located in the cab of the engine is a signal which, in the presentinstance, is in the form of a bell 6 having the terminals thereofconnected respectively to the conductors 1 and 2 on the engine andconnected in the conductor 2 is a suitale source of electrical energy asa battery 7. Located in each car of the train is a signaling device orcircuit closer 8 comprising a substantially rectangular casing 9 havingone side wall thereof formed with a keyhole slot 10 and secured to theinner surfaces of opposite edge walls of the casing 9 are contacts 11,11 adapted to be bridged by a bridging strip 12 carried by a key 13 andadapted to be passed through the keyhole 10 into the casing 9. Thecontacts 11 of each signaling device or circuit closer are connected inparallel with the conductors 1, 2 on;the particular car by wires 14.These signaling devices are conveniently located in each car and securedto the car adjacent to the signal device is a plate 15 upon which areinscribed instructions indicating the number of times the circuit mustbe closed to transmit various signals to the engineer. For instance,when the circuit is closed once and immediately opened the bell 6 willbe sounded once to indicate stop while when the circuit is closed andopened and again closed and opened, the bell 6 will be sounded twice toindicate go ahead. When the circuit is alternately closed and openedthree times and the bell sounded a similar number of times the engineeris signaled to back, while four sounds of the bell advises the engineerto call flagmen, etc.

When a trainman in a car of the train desires to signal the engineer,the bridging strip 12 carried by the key 13 is passed through thekeyhole slot 10 in the casing 9 of the signaling device in theparticular car and rotated under the action of. the key to bridge thecontacts 1.], thereby closing the circuit to energize the bell G. Thebridging strip is alternately moved into and out of engagement with thecontacts so as to make and break the circuit the required number oftimes to transmit the desired signalto the engineer.

In accordance with my present invention, telephone sets 15 are locatedin the cab of the locomotive and the caboose of the train respectivelyand one terminal of the telephone set in the cab is connected to theconductor 2 by way of a conductor 16, while the other terminal of suchset is grounded upon the wheels and axles of the locomotive by means ofa conductor 17. Similarly, one

side of the telephone set 15 in the caboose of the train isgrounded uponthe wheels and axles of the caboose by Way of a conductor 18, while theother terminal of the telephone set is connected to the conductor 2 byway of a conductor 19. By means of this ar rangement, it will be seenthat one of the conductors 2 forms one side of the talking circuit,while the other sideof such circuit is formed by the rails of thetrackway, and such circuit supplied with energy from the battery 7 Inthe present instance, a visible signal 20 in the form of an incandescentlamp colored red is located in the cab of the locomotive and connectedin parallel with the bellG so as to guard against failure of the bell.Also located in the cab is a voltmeter 21 which may be connected inseries with the battery 7 by means of a switch 22 so that the voltage ofthe battery may be tested by the engineer whenever it is deemedadvisable.

In practice, the conductors 1. on the cars 01 the train are coloreddifferently from the conductors 2 so as to insure the proper connectingof the conductors in circuit formation.

I claim:

In a train signal system, conductors carried by each car of the trainand insulated from each other, means for connecting correspondingconductors of coupled cars to one another in circuit'formation, a sourceof energy in the circuit, a cab signal in the circuit, circuit closingdevices located in each car of the train and connected in multiple inthe circuit whereby the circuit may be closed from any car of the trainto energize said; signal, the circuit closing devices in each car beinglocated upon opposite sides thereof, a key for actuating said devices. atelephoneset in the cab of the locomotive, a connection between oneterminal of said set and one line of the conductors of the circuit, aground circuit for the; other side of said telephone set, a telephoneset in the caboose of theitrain, a connection between one side ofthe-last telephone set and the line of the conductors of saidwcircuitconnected with the first mentioned telephone set and a ground connectionfor the last mentioned telephone set.

In testimonywhereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LAWRENCE L. PARKHILL.

Witnesses:

JNo. W. GiBsoN, W. C. BOYD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,. byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0.

